The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-08-28
SINK AND SWIM.
The Average Boys Reason for His
Love Of Water.
ssCause It's Fun"-A Prolific Source of
FiIiaI Disobedicnce-fIow the Art of
Swimming May be Acquired.

To civilized mothers the antipathics
and proclivitics of their male offspring
as regards water have ever proved in
cxplicablc. The average boy of Chris
tendon dislikcs to have his face
washed at any time, and the mere men
ton of a tub bath cxasperates him to
the point of outright rebellion. But,
give him the opportunity and he will
stay in the river or lake or ocean till
his lips are blue and his teeth chatter.
This performance he will repeat day
after day from the first warmest
weather of May till September nights
are touched with frost.
1t is not desire for wholesome
cleanliness that alrrcs him. Nothing
is further than that from his thoughts
and desires.
If asked why he does SO he probably
answers succinctly: "Cansc its fun.
That is good and sufficient reason
from his intellectual standpoint, and
he lapses into careless or rcticent in
difference if the subject is pursued in
the interest of scientific reese srch.
Probably more filial disobedience is
chargeable to this love of the water
than to any other in the long list of
boyhood's temptations. Some boys arc
good enough and obedicnt enough as
general thing not to gsoin swimming
against orders, provided permission be
granted with reasonably recurring fire.
uvopor Int not 1i1-olx chat anu
boy of spirit can be restricted alto
gether unless some uncommonly good
reason can be brought home to him.
The fact that his mother is afraid lest
he be drowned will have due weight
with every well-disposed boy, and may
restrain him for awhile, but he can not
help knowing that his mates battle
with reckless impunity, and his virtue
must be wcll-nigh prcternatural if it
cndures the cvcr-incrcasing and una
voidable strain of perpetual tempta-
ton.
The fact that scores of lives are lost
every year through bathing goes for
nothing in the boys mind. Indeed, a
spice of danger only adds to the a t.
Effectiveness of deep water. The long
ing for adventure that is deeply rooted
in nearly every boys heart is wholly
lacking in most women, hence the av-
eragc mother is apt to strain her au-
thority and eventually renders the bur-
den of obedience insupportable.
Far better would it be if honorable
terms could be agreed upon by both
parties, bathing being permitted when
certain specified boys, if possible, Older
and more or less trustworthy are pres.
ent, or under certain other regulations
such as can be devised to meet almos,
any possible conditions. 1t is, how.
ever, foregone conclusion that i
healthy boy who wants to battle will dc
SO somehow-obcdicntl if he can, but
otherwise if he must.
Granting that such is boy-nature, and
that the average American lad will be
fore he is out of his teens secure nu
merous opportunities for drowning him
self, it is well that he should learn t,
swim. That accomplishment may no
prevent him from being drowned, bu
itlargcly reduces the probabilities.
Books are full of elaborate direction
for learning to swim, and in large cite
there are schools where the art can b.
acquired at all seasons of the year, bu
it is safe to say that any child havin;
ordinary courage can safely be laugh
or can teach himself to swim by tn
following simple method.
Find place where the water deep
ems gradually as an ordinary beach
Often in small stream there are pool
nowhere too deep for safety. Procnr
band or belt to go around the bus
under the arms with small bands owe
the shoulders to keep it from slippin
down. To this belt attach a safety
line Of such length that the learne
can not go into the water deeper thai
the waist.
The first thing to be done is to lear
70 duck" without minding it. Hol
your breath and put your head unde
water several times whenever 20
battle. You probably feel strangely
bit at first. but the ducking win becom
aess and less less d!!saggreeablc until tn
disinclination to go under water ncarl
or quite disappears. Of course tn
bather need not make martyr of hin
self by spending his whole time in tn
practice Of ducking. He may splas
about rs mach as he likes. Some az
quire the necessary indifference
being under water almost at once
When it is acquired, let the battle
select place where the water is ju
deep enough for him to sit upon ii
bottom with head and shoulders out
water. Then let him take full brcat
distending the lungs and placing b
arms by his sides lie down on his bae
on the bottom. II unsuccessful. pa
TALLY expcI the air from the lungs al
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